This is one of the first articles I have seen that hints at the
question: What are the big contributors going to do if the
administration begins to collapse, for reasons beyond the contributors'
or the administration's control. One thing I would suspect is growing
pressure on Bush to dump both Rumsfeld and Cheney, and possibly offer
the vice presidency to McCain to head off Kerry's clear progress toward
an alliance with McCain.
But this may also be an opening gun in a campaign that can offer
possibilities for getting money back. Note that the headline on the
WashingtonPost.com summary is different and much sharper than the
headline on the article in the paper:
THE BUSH MONEY MACHINE : Fundraising's Rewards
Pioneers Fill War Chest, Then Capitalize
The .com headline not only stresses the total, but notes "few
restraints." This opens the door to dealing with the question of
bribery, but perhaps more explosively EXTORTION: donors being pressured
to contribute under threat, or barred from making contributions to both
parties by extortionate threats.
Watch this space for further developments. If the administration proves
unsalvageable, some people are going to want to cut very big losses.
Fred Feldman
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A29142-2004May15.html?refe
rrer=email
TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Building War Chest With Few Restraints
Since 1998, President Bush has raised a record $296.3 million in
campaign funds. At the heart of the most successful political money
operation in history:...
(By Thomas B. Edsall, Sarah Cohen and James V. Grimaldi, The Washington
Post)